Associate Compensation Scorecard: Which Firms Have Announced Bonuses? (Fall 2018)
Is your firm listed here? If not, what are the partners waiting for?
Since we broke the news of the market bonus scale for associates at large law firms in the United States — a trend that was started by Cravath on Monday, November 19, 2018 — many firms have quickly fallen in line and matched (or sometimes beaten) the scale. It’s still quite early in bonus season, so we’ve yet to hear from firms offering statements on why they’ve failed to match the market, and dozens upon dozens of firms have remained completely silent.
As usual, we are compiling a table of all the firms that have already matched the new bonus scale, the markets where those bonus matches were made, the minimum hours required to receive those bonuses (if available), and the date those bonuses will be paid. Today, we unveil that table for your viewing pleasure. We will be updating this table on a daily basis, sometimes multiple times, as news on bonuses is announced. If you see any information here that is incorrect or needs clarification, let us know.
Help us help you now (and if/when you decide to make a lateral move in the future). Let us know what your firm’s minimum billable hours targets are for bonus eligibility and when your firm will pay those bonuses. You generally must remain at your firm until the payout date to receive them, as stated in most memos, which could make it all the more difficult for you to leave your place of employment.
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As a little reminder, we love covering the Biglaw bonus season, but we need your help. As soon as your firm’s bonus memo comes out, please email it to us (subject line: “[Firm Name] Bonus”). We always keep our sources on bonus stories anonymous. There’s no need to send the memo using your firm email account; your personal email account is fine. Please be sure to include the memo as proof; we like to post complete bonus memos as a service to our readers. You can take a photo of the memo and attach as a picture if you are worried about metadata in a PDF or Word file.
Don’t forget, if you’d like to sign up for ATL’s Bonus Alerts, please enter your email address in the box below. If you previously signed up for the bonus alerts, you don’t need to do anything. You’ll receive an email notification within minutes of each bonus announcement that we publish. Cheers to a happy bonus season, everyone!
Firm | Date Matched | Offices Matched | Minimum Hours | Payout Date |
Cravath Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K |
FIRST MOVER November 19, 2018 |
New York, NY | None | December 14, 2018 |
Paul Weiss Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2011+: $100K |
November 20, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | December 21, 2018 |
Holwell Shuster & Goldberg Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K |
November 19, 2018 | New York, NY | None | December 31, 2018 |
Milbank Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K |
November 20, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | December 31, 2018 |
Kaplan Hecker & Fink Class of 2017: $25K Class of 2011: $130K |
November 20, 2018 | New York, NY | None | December 21, 2018 |
Fried Frank Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010+: $100K |
November 20, 2018 | All U.S. Offices + London, UK | 2000 for market bonus (incl. 300 in pro bono and 125 qualified non-billable hours); bonuses 15% or 30% above market at the 2200- and 2450-hour marks | December 27, 2018 |
Skadden Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2011+: $100K |
November 20, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | 1800 for market bonus; additional $10K bonuses available for Class of 2012+ for “extraordinary performance” | December 15, 2018 |
Proskauer Rose Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K |
November 20, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | December 21, 2018 |
Debevoise Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2011+: $100K |
November 20, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | “Payable at year end” |
Greenberg Gross Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2011+: $100K |
November 20, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | January 15, 2019 |
Wilkinson Walsh + Eskovitz Class of 2017: $22.5K Class of 2011+: $150K |
November 20, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | December 14, 2018 |
Cleary Gottlieb Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010+: $100K |
November 20, 2018 | All U.S. Offices + All Int’l Lawyers on U.S. Scale | None | December 14, 2018 |
Simpson Thacher Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K |
November 21, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | December 28, 2018 |
Cadwalader Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2011+: $100K |
November 21, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | 1800 hours for a market bonus | Undisclosed |
Weil Gotshal Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K Class of 2009+: Case by case |
November 21, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | January 31, 2019 |
Freshfields Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010+: $100K |
November 21, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | December 28, 2018 |
Covington & Burling Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2011+: $100K |
November 26, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | January 2019 |
Davis Polk Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2011+: $100K |
November 26, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | December 14, 2018 |
Sidley Austin Class of 2017: $15K Class of 2010+: $100K |
November 26, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | 2000 hours for market bonus | Undisclosed |
Kramer Levin Class of 2017: $15K Class of 2011+: $100K |
November 26, 2018 | New York, NY Silicon Valley, CA |
“Hours threshold set forth in Annual Bonus Policy” | February 15, 2019 |
Clifford Chance Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010+: $100K |
November 27, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | January 15, 2019 |
Sheppard Mullin First Year (A1): $15K (pro-rated) Counsel 2: $100K |
November 27, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | 2000 hours for market-match bonus; fewer/greater hours equal lower/higher bonuses | January 2019 |
Ropes & Gray Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2016: $25K Classes of 2015+: Determined individually |
November 27, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | 1900 hours (including pro bono) for market bonus | December 21, 2018 |
Fenwick & West T1/L1: $15K T3: $100K |
November 28, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | 1950 hours for market bonus | December 21, 2018 |
Dechert Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K |
November 28, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | January 2019 |
Willkie Farr Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2011+: $100K |
November 29, 2018 | All U.S. Offices | None | December 21, 2018 |
Shearman & Sterling Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2011+: $100K |
November 29, 2018 | All U.S. Track Associates | None | January 15, 2019 |
Mayer Brown Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2011+: $100K |
December 3, 2018 | All U.S. offices | Multiple tiers with varying hours | February 2019 |
Boies Schiller GIGANTIC |
December 3, 2018 | New York, NY | None | Undisclosed |
Hueston Hennigan 30 to 50 percent of an associate’s base salary |
December 6, 2018 | Los Angeles, CA Newport Beach, CA |
Based on class year, hours, and good standing | Undisclosed |
Morgan Lewis Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2011+: $100K |
December 7, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | 1900 hours for market bonus | Undisclosed |
Akin Gump Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K Additional bonus amounts of $5,000 – $25,000 for “extraordinary performance” |
December 7, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | None | Undisclosed |
Selendy & Gay Class of 2018: $22.5K Class of 2012: $135K |
December 7, 2018 | New York, NY | None | December 21, 2018 |
Wigdor Bonuses ranging from $70,000 minimum to $160,000. |
December 7, 2018 | New York, NY | None | Undisclosed |
Susman Godfrey Partnership Class of 2023: $110K (median) Partnership Class of 2018: $225K (median) |
December 10, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | None | Undisclosed |
Hogan Lovells Class of 2017: $15K Class of 2011+: $100K |
December 10, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | 2,000 hours for market bonus (including unlimited pro bono hours once 1850-hour threshold is met) | December 31, 2018 |
Pepper Hamilton Class of 2017/2016: $10,000 / $15,000 Class of 2011/2010: $17,500 / $22,500 Plus discretionary bonuses |
December 12, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | 2,040 vs. 2,140 billable hour threshold for market bonus; discretionary bonus at 1940 hours | Undisclosed |
Allen Matkins Class of 2018: $5K base (depends on hours) |
December 12, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | More hours = more bonus money; see memo | Undisclosed |
Perkins Coie Individualized |
December 13, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | None | Undisclosed |
Gibson Dunn Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K |
December 13, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | None | Undisclosed |
Alston & Bird Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K |
December 13, 2018 | New York, NY Dallas, TX Los Angeles, CA Reportedly below-market bonuses in other offices |
1950 hours for market bonus | Undisclosed |
Schulte Roth & Zabel Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2009: $100K |
December 13, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | Base threshold undisclosed; up to $40K extra bonus cash for high billers ($20K extra for 2300 hours + $20K extra for 2500 hours) | January 18, 2019 |
McGuireWoods Junior: $7.5K Senior: Up to $50K |
December 14, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | Base of 2050 hours; higher bonus with increased hours | Undisclosed |
Cahill Gordon Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K Plus special bonuses ranging from $5,000-$40,000 for “outstanding individual effort” |
December 14, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | None | Second half of January 2019 |
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner Class of 2016/17: Base of $10K – Up to $30K (based on hours) Class of 2013+: Base of $20K – Up to $60K (based on hours) |
December 17, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | Bonuses based on hours, with a threshold of 1900 hours | Undisclosed |
Kirkland & Ellis Most associates will receive 1.25-1.33x of market |
December 18, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | None | Undisclosed |
Sullivan & Cromwell Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K |
December 19, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | None | December 31, 2018 |
McKool Smith Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K |
December 19, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | None | Undisclosed |
Haynes & Boone Individualized (but seem to be Cravath matches) + “summer bonuses” included in year-end bonuses |
December 20, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | 2000 hours | December 31, 2018 |
Locke Lord About 25-30 percent below market for every class year Top billers received Cravath matches |
December 21, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | None | December 31, 2018 |
Baker Botts Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K |
December 21, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | 2000 hours (plus “summer bonuses” for those who caught up on hours); bigger bonuses at a threshold of 2150 hours | Undisclosed |
Quinn Emanuel Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100K |
December 21, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | 2100 hours for market bonus; 2400-2699 hours for $3K to $20K above-market bonus; 2700+ hours for $5.25K to $35K above-market bonus | December 21, 2018 |
McDermott Class of 2018: $15K (pro-rated) Class of 2010: $100KAdditional bonus hours for productivity over 2000 hours and/or exceptional performance |
March 8, 2019 | All U.S. offices | 2000 billable (includes 100 pro bono hours, 75 professional development hours, and 25 wellness hours) | March 15, 2019 |
Fish & Richardson Individualized bonuses, but seem to be above-market |
December 26, 2018 | All U.S. Associates | None | Undisclosed |
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Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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